WASHINGTON, DC — A native Iowan and former University of Iowa football player is now in charge of the United States Department of Justice.

On Wednesday afternoon President Trump Tweeted out that Attorney General Jeff Sessions is resigning at his request and is being replaced by his Chief of Staff, Matt Whitaker.

Whitaker is a Des Moines native who played football and went to law school at the University of Iowa. He served as a US Attorney in Des Moines during the George W. Bush Administration.

We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well….

Whitaker was also a partner at Rep. Chris Hagenow’s, R-Urbandale, law firm.

Hagenow said Whitaker is up for the challenge this new position will bring.

“He has a passion for public service and I know that he really enjoys the work at the Department of Justice. So he will be very well suited for those two things. He is a gifted attorney and he always has been. He has a very keen mind for that and so I am very sure he is excited about the new challenges,” Whitaker said.